Gov. Rick Perry is not the only person in Texas opposed to a statewide ban on texting while driving. He is just the only one stopping it, placing Texas among the diminishing list of states without a comprehensive distracted driving law.

With seven bills aimed at curbing use of handheld wireless devices on Texas roadways, lawmakers are returning to a text messaging ban for all drivers that was passed two years ago, only to be vetoed by Perry.

Lawmakers on Tuesday said they would work to change that.

Three who have thrown their support behind Senate Bill 28 and House Bill 63, which together would form the Alex Brown Memorial Act barring distracted driving in Texas, held at a news conference with family members whose relatives have died in distracted driving accidents.

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The proposed Alex Brown Memorial Act is named for a Lubbock-area teen who was texting four friends when she became distracted and flipped her pickup in 2009.

"Things happened so quickly," Jeanne Brown said as she tearfully told her daughter's story. "All it takes is a split second to lose control."

Distracted driving tragedies continue across Texas. State Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, said 6-year-old Cub Scout Brandon Adams was killed last week by a teen driver, suspected of being drunk and distracted because he was talking on his cell phone.

"We, as Texans, need to raise a generation of people who know you don't use this," Menendez said, holding up a cell phone, "when you're driving."

Menendez's bill, House Bill 41, would bar drivers from using a wireless device in a vehicle unless it is in park.

Lots of support

The bills have the support of the Insurance Council of Texas, the Texas Medical Association, AAA Texas and wireless communication company AT&T.

"As an emergency room physician I've been involved in the worst days of most people's lives," said Dr. Robert Greenberg, of Temple, who spoke on behalf of the Texas Medical Association. "The tragedies are worse when they're avoidable. Texting while driving is avoidable … We need to pass this legislation."

Texas already bans texting by drivers under 18, in school zones, and by bus drivers who carry children, all pieces of legislation that Perry signed.

State Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, said she was confident public pressure would persuade Perry to sign a distracted driving bill, if passed.

"There is conversation with his office," Harless said. "We are confident with the input that we get from you … that there will be pressure to let this pass into law. "

Any bill that comes the governor's way will get reviewed, spokesman Josh Havens said in an email. Perry believes "the key to dissuading drivers from texting while driving is information and education, not government micromanagement," Havens wrote.

It is the same rationale Perry used when he vetoed a texting bill in 2011.

Nationally, the momentum to curb distracted driving has accelerated in the interim.

The number of states banning text messaging by drivers increased from 19 in 2009 to 39 at the end of 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In Texas, 25 cities have banned texting while driving, including San Antonio and Austin.

Bills were pending in five of those remaining 11 states: Arizona, Texas, Florida, New Mexico and South Carolina.

Backers flabbergasted

Texas is the only state whose legislators passed a statewide ban, only to have the governor veto it.

Few, if any lawmakers deny the growing pile of data showing text messaging distracts drivers, and even opponents of a ban have said educational campaigns are warranted.

Supporters said they often are flabbergasted at the logic behind opposition to such a law.

"They think it is something that infringes upon people's liberties, when really what it does is save lives," said Arizona State Sen. Steve Farley.

Farley, a Tucson Democrat, was the first state legislator in America to file a texting ban bill. His proposal, however, has failed for seven consecutive years. During that time, he said partisan bickering has been the biggest obstacle.

"Now, we're in a climate where so many people on the right feel they can turn down money if it has strings attached, any strings or what they think are strings," Farley said.

The current federal transportation bill offers grants to states that ban texting behind the wheel, but does not threaten states with less money if they do not comply.